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City schools seek grant for field turf at AHS

ASHEBORO — Asheboro City Schools is seeking a $700,000 grant to upgrade Asheboro High School’s Lee J. Stone Stadium playing surface with field turf for both school and community use.

The Asheboro City Board of Education voted Thursday night to approve submission of the grant application to the Edward M. Armfield Sr. Foundation, headquartered in Greensboro. The foundation board is expected to act on the application at a Nov. 20 meeting.

Board member Chris Yow presented the application, noting that field turf was initially discussed four to five years ago, but the project was not pursued because of the economy and other budget considerations.

He has chaired a committee to secure current costs for the project and find alternative funding sources for the field turf project.

According to the application, the installation of field turf would “turn Lee J. Stone Stadium from a treasured school asset into a valuable community asset.” It has the potential to become the area’s premier outdoor-controlled access venue, located on U.S. 64, for ticketed area events.

“The potential community and economic impact cannot be understated.”

City schools now partner with the City of Asheboro’s Cultural and Recreation Services Department, the Randolph-Asheboro YMCA and Randolph Community College to host several events at the stadium. The first game was played on the field in 1953; the stadium was named after legendary coach Lee J. Stone in 1960.

“Installing field turf is the gateway to expanding opportunities for athletics, outdoor concerts and a variety of public events that currently have no local venue. … the ancillary benefits to our local economy cannot be overlooked. Athletic and cultural events bring people who will eat in our restaurants, possibly stay overnight in our hotels, visit other attractions like the N.C. Zoo and shop in Asheboro/Randolph County as part of their experience,” the application states.

The present natural Bermuda grass operation costs $31,422 a year for the field’s maintenance and personnel or $377,064, at current prices, over a 12-year period. The first-time no-maintenance field turf installment cost of $700,000, minus the Bermuda field operating costs for 12 years, equals $322,936 or $26,911 per year.

Permanent field turf cost estimates obtained last month from three companies for base construction, installation and fence replacement ranged from $663,694 to $770,240.

Installation of the field turf is the second phase of a three-phase project to upgrade the stadium.

Funds for the first phase, $300,000, were budgeted by city schools this fiscal year. A new concession stand and handicapped-accessible restroom facilities will be constructed in the west end zone area. Work is under way to survey the area and the initial design plan is complete. This phase is expected to be ready for the first home game in August 2013.

The second phase is the field turf.

A third phase is a long-term goal to add east end zone bleachers for the AHS band, end zone restrooms and a field house.

As part of the application, there are letters of support from the City of Asheboro, the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce and Randolph County Tourism Development Authority.

Also at Thursday night’s meeting:

* Sammy Roman, a fifth-grader at Donna Lee Loflin Elementary, led the Pledge of Allegiance.

* St. Joseph’s Catholic Church was honored as a community partner for its commitment to serve students from Loflin School. City schools’ first faith-based partnership began in 2003 and continues to help English Language Learners acquire the skills necessary to be successful in the classroom. Currently, 37 students in grades K-5 participate in the afterschool program two days a week.

* The board spotlight also focused on Loflin and the staff’s efforts to integrate the PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) model with the school’s FISH philosophy related to classroom management and students.

* Principals and staff from all five elementary schools — Balfour, Lindley Park, Loflin, Charles W. McCrary and Guy B. Teachey — presented highlights of their 2012-13 school year Continuous Improvement Plans which were approved by the school board Thursday night.

* An American Education Week proclamation for the week of Nov. 11-17 was also approved.